Tension-controlling mechanism for musical instruments



De. 27, 1927.' Lg

' Y u. URQUHART TENSION -CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTSFiled Jan. 10. 1924 SWSheetS-Sheet l accent Q @Jaa Q A-Q/ Q Bass JczfcbnDec, E?) 192651 l 1,653,935

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ff//f/ .U. URQUHART Filed Jan.1o. 1924 Dec.- 27, 1927.

TEusmrcoNTnoLLG MEGHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS T/a-Zde @fiest www E lf u 19653935 TENS'OEE CNTRLLNG EGHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FiledJan.10. 1924 6 1Sheets-Sheet 4 uw 27 um cva Ua wmmfamw TENSICCONTROLLIN'G MECEANISH FOR MUSCAL INSTRUMENTS enfermar meza Dec. 27,1927. 1,653,935

u. uRQuHAR-r TENSION CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filedaan. 10. '1924 @sheets-sheet s y dvrvuyf 7m my m Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT @Efljll i mail UBERT URQUHART, OF NEWr YGRK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOR T0 THE AUTO ENEUMATTC ATEUN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. y

., A CORPORATION OF NEW' YORK..

TENSION-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed January 10, 1924.

' The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved tensioncontrolling mechanism for pneumatically operated musical instrumentswhereby thedynamic effects can be controlled.

The invention has been particularly designed for use in combination withan accenting instrument which is operated from `two sources of tension;one relatively high and the other relatively low; the high tension beingappli-ed automatically to selected notes to obtain solo effects. Whilethe improved tension controlling mechanism can be applied substantiallyto any accenting instrument7 I have particularly designed and shown thesame herein as aplplied to the accenting mechanism shown and describedin an application for patent filed by- Herbert J. La [foie and UbertUrquhart, Sept. lll, 1922, Serial llo. 588,254.

The improved tension controlling mecha-- nism has been designed to workprimarily in a suction or exhaust operating mechanism; and theparticular feature thereof consists in providing an adjusting valve forcontrolling passage from the action to the suction pump; a springpressed pneumatic for operating said valve, anda valve operated from thetracker-bar for controlling said pneumatic, the passage for operatingthc pneumatic against the spring being restricted in size, while theApassage from the atmosphere to the pneumatic is large, whereby the timeelement of the position of the perforation in the music sheet foroperating said pneumatic relatively to the position of the playingperforation or perforations controls the dynamic effect. This dynamiceffect is preferably built up on a governed tension which is theslightest or softest the instrument is to play. The pneumatic abovementioned preferably is operated from an accurately governed source oftension so that the time element can be nicely figured.

Preferably two such mechanisms are employed with each tension. hisadjusting valve mechanism also preferably is duplicated so that saidmechanism will automat-ically control the tension which operates eitheror both the accented or accompanis .ment notes.

@ne form of Vapparatus by which my in` rention can be convenientlypracticedL is il- Serial No. 685,341.

lustrated in the accompanying six sheets of drawings, referring towhich- F l is a diagrammatic elevation 'illus-A trating a player pianoaction with my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation on an enlargedscale partly in section of theaccent control valve chest.

Fig. 3 is a. bottom plan view partly in section in the line 3 3 of Fig.2.

Fig. i is a cross sectional elevation thereof on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the perforated music sheet,tracker-bar, and the connections by which the accenting is obtained. 1

Fig. 6 is a front elevation partly in section illustrating the tensioncontrolling mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 8 is a plan thereof.

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan on the line 9 9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a cross ysectional elevationlon the line lO-l'() of Fig. 6.

l1 is an enlarged view of the tension controlling valves and operatingpneumatics therefor.

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional elevation on the line lf2-l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is: a detailed view of one of the springs which controls theadjusting pneun matic. y v

Fig. 14 is a partial cross sectional plan on the line 14 lef of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a plan illustrating the relative arrangement of the twosprings used in convnection with two of the adjusting pneumatics, and

Fig. lo is a diagrammatic plan of the tracker-bar and music sheet,lillustrating diagrammatically the connections to 'the tensioncontrolling mechanisms.

Referring to the drawings and in detail7 l will first describe ingeneral terms the accenting` mechanism to which my improvement is to beapplied and reference to follow this description should be had to thefirst three sheets of drawings.

These drawings 'illustrate a tracker-bar and music .sheet manipulatingmechanism ranged in any of the improved ways, above an action valvechest, which carries theusual striker pneumatics having connections foroperating the actions of the piano as illustrated particularly in Fig.4. The action valve chest contains partitions 100 as illustrated inFigs. 1 and 5 so that the trackercontrolled valves V will be dividedinto sections. As shown there may be nine intermediate sections of threevalves each and the remainder of the valves may be divided between thebass and treble sections. 0n top of the action chest is arranged anaccent control valve chest l/V having j )assages G and H, the passage Gbeing a low tension passage for the accompaniment and the passage lbeinga high tension passage for the accent. The accent control valve chest `Wis provided with nine valves C, which control passages extending to thenine sections in the valve chest, and with two jointly act-` ing valvesC1 controlling passages extending to the bass section ont the actionvalve chest and with two jointly acting valves C2 controlling passagesextending 'to the treble section ot the action valve chest. These valvesare controlled by eleven expression openings arranged in thetracker-bar, live at the left thereoil and six at the right thereof, asillustrated particularly in Fig. 5. The normal playing is obtained fromthe lower tension in the accompaniment passage Gr. lt any note is to beaccented, the proper one ot the eleven accent openings in the tracker isuncovered, by an accent-controlling perforation in the music sheet,which will set the proper valve C, C1 or C2, as the case may be, so thatthe air from the particular section oit' the action valve chest, insteadoit being exhausted through the passage G, will be exhausted through thepassage H, which is connected to the high tension so that the pai'-ticular note thus will be accented. 'lhus the piece of music can beplayed to produce solo etl'ects, that is particular notes may beaccented or played louder than the remaining or accompanying notes.

The details ot this accenting mechanism are set forth more in detail insaid application for patent,v Serial No. 588,254, previously referredto.

I will now describe the tension comzrolling` mechanism, by which thetension ot either or both the accent or accompaniment may beautomatically controlled from the tracker-bar. The suction pump isconnected by a pipe 20 to the back block 2l oi the tension controllingdevice and to a horizontal 'passage 22 therein. The tension controllingdevice is constructed so as to contain two cham- The valve arrangementin each chamber 23 and 24 is substantially the same and the arrangementin the accompaniment chamber 24 will be described in detail.

The passage 22 is connected by a passage 27 to the chamber 24,this'passage being controlled by a pivoted spring pressed governor valve28, which is regulated by a pneumatic 29 adj ustably connected theretoby link 80. The pneumatic 29 is normally kept open by an adjustablespring 3l and the pneumatic is connected to the chamber 24 by a passageThese parts are arranged so that normally the lightestor so'itesttension employed will be maintained in the chamber 24. A long narrowvertical passage 33 is arranged between the chamber 24 and the passage22, which passage is controlled by a sliding valve 34, arranged to movevertically in ways or guides 85, 850. rlhis valve is adjustablyconnected by a wire or rod 36 to an adjusting pneumatic 37 arranged atthe lelt hand top ot the structure, this pneumatic being normallyilorced open by a spring 38 arranged on the side thereon, .vhereby thesliding 'valve 34 will be held upwardly normally to cover the passage Athird compartment 39 is arranged at the right hand part of the structureand the same is connected by a passage 40 to the passage 22. Thispassage is controlled by a pivoted spring pressed governing valve 4l,which is adj ustably connected to a pneumatic 42, arranged on the righthand side of the structure, which pneumatic is connected to thecompartment 39 by a passage 43, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6.The pneumatic 42 is normally kept extended by an adjustably arrangedspring 44. By this arrangement an accurately governed tension will bemaintained in the compartment 39. This third compartment is connected bya passage 45 to a passage 4G in a block 47. A double valve 48, see Fig.l2, is arranged to control a pas- 49 extending to the adjustingpneumatic 37, so as either to leave the pneumatic connected to theatmosphere through a passage 50 in the top of the block 47 or to connectthe pneumatic to the passage 4o.

lt will be seen that the tension in the passage 4G .is an accuratelygoverned tension, so that the operation oit the adjusting pneumatic 37can be readily regulated. The connection between the passage 46 and thepassage 49 is made minute or restricted in size. a bleed. or perforatedmetal cap 5l being preferably employed.` while the passage from thegoverning pneumatic to the atmosphere is relatively very large. W'iththis arrangement, when the double valve 48 is lifted to connect thepassage 46 with the passage 49 to collapse the adjusting pneumatic 37,ithis action will take place very slowly as the air can only tlow veryslowly through the bleed 51. On the other hand when the double (llllill) valve i8 is in its normal position, as illusi trated in lig.12,the atmospheric air can flou? at high speed into the adjusting pneu-.ina-tic so that the opening movement thereot Will be almostinstantaneous. The valve is operated by a diaphragm 52 having a bleedcontrol compartment 53 below the saine, Which is connected. by a tube 54to a tension control opening 55 in the tracker. rllhis controllingmechanism preferably is duplicated. Along passage 330 isarranged betweenthe passage 22 and the chamber 2d, this passage 330 being` considerablyWider than the passage This part ofthe tension control mechanismiscontrolled by a sliding valve :S1/l0 arranged in guides 350 and 351,which sli valve is connected by Wire 36() to governing pneumatic 370normally held open by spring 380. lhis miljusting` pneumatic 370 isoperated by a double valve arranged in the block 47 and is similar inconstruction to the double valve already described. This double valve iscontrolled through a tracker' opening `57 nent to the opening 55, asillustrated in Fig. 16. The chamber 28 which is arranged to control thedynamics of the accent is provided vvith similar governing valves, etc.,lwhich it is not believed necessary to describe again.

'.lhe operation is as follows, the description being` given of theoperation in connection with the chamber 24rcontrolling the accoinpaniment. The tension in this chamber is normally maintained by thegoverning valve 2S at the lovvest or softest which is to he employed torplaying. lh hen a note or series of accompaniment notes is to be playedlouder, a tension control opening` is cut in the music sheet in propertime relation. For example, perforation is cut a slight distance aheadof the playing perl'oration Gl, -whereby the sliding valvell Will beslightly lowered betere the note 61 .is called, thereby playing the sameWith a slightly increased torce, the degree ot increase being determinedby the advance or" the perforation 60 relatively to perforation Gl. lthe next note is to be played louder the tension control opening GQ isgiven an increased lead relatively to the playing per- .toration 63. Byliguring the advance of the tension control perforation relatively tothe playing peri'iorationv or perforations VWithin the limits of theaction obtained by the valve l/l, various pressures can be establishedto control the dynamics because the slou7 opening movement ot the valve34 is controlled by these tension control periorations.

ln case .it is desired to goabove the degree ot tension Which can beobtainedby the valve 34-, recourse is had to the operation oli' thevalve 340, which controls the' larger passage 330, that is, perforationWill give alarger degree of tension Jfor playing perforation 7l; 7 2still louder for 7 3 ;.74 still loudtor and 76 still louder for 77. As

many tension control valves 34-340 can be employed as desired but I havefound two suliicient. made to werk together it desired by arranging thetension control openings side by ,side but I have found it usuallybetter to operate only one valve 341-. or 34C() at a time.

The dynamics of the accent are similarly controlled from the chamber 23,Which is connected by the pipe 25 to the accent pas sage inthe accentcontrol valve chest. The spaces under the diaphragm of the valve @LS-i8of this part of the tension control apparatus are connected by pipes 540and 560 to tension control openings `550 and 570 at the right hand endof the tracker bar, as illustrated in Figure 16 and the saine generaloperation is obtained with the heavier pressure gir/en the accentednotes.

trol perforation GOG Will cause the note called by the perfor-ation 610to be played with a certain tension, While the time eleient of thetension control 620 will cause the note called by the perforation 630 tobe played with a heavier tension. Of course While the tension control ofthe accented notes is to be regulated, accenting perforations such as Xand X1 must be arranged in conjunction with the playing perforations.The springs for controlling two governing pneumatics Q9 are preferablymade slightly diierent in size as illustrated in Fig. v15, the spring onthe pneumatic controlling the accenting part ot the action beingsomewhat shorter and stiller than the spring on the other pneumatic, sothat the tension on the accented notes normally will be kept somewhathigher than the tension on the accompaniment notes so that the accentednotes normally' will be played somewhat louder.. The same results couldbe obtained by adj usting the tension of the springs but l have founditis preferable to employ springs of dii'lerent lengths for `thispurpose. By adjusting the connection between the valve 4l andthepneumatic l2 or by adjusting the tension el the kspring 44, it Will beseen that the tension at which the adjusting pneumatics 37 and 370operate can be regulated, whereby the relative dynamic effects obtainedfrom the tension control perforations in the music sheet can beadjusted. By the arrangements described it will thus be seen that simplemechanism is provided for controlling dynamic eliects, which mechanismcan be advantageously applied to van accenting mechanism.

The details and arrangements herein shown and described may be 4greatlyvaried by skilled 'mechanic Without departing vfrom' the scope of theinvention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention The valves 3l and 84() may bevFor instance, the time element ot the tension con-` what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is zl. A tension controllingmechanism for musical instruments comprising an adjusting valvecontrolling a passage from the action to the pump, a spring pressedpneumatic for operating said adjusting valve, and a valve operated fromthe tracker for controlling said pneumatic, the passage for operatingthe pneumatic against the spring being restricted in size, whereby thetime element of the position of the perforation in the music sheet foroperating said pneumatic relatively to the position ot' the playingperforation or pertorations controls the intensity of the dynamice'lifect.

2. A tension controlling,mechanism for musical instruments, comprisingan adjusting valve controlling a. passage from the action to the pump, aspring pressed pneumatic for operating said adjusting valve, and a valveoperated from the tracker for controlling` said pneumatic, the passagefor operating the pneumatic against the spring being restricted in size,While the passage from the atmosphere to the pneumatic is large, wherebythe time element ot the position of the perforation in the music sheetfor operating said pneumatic relatively to the position of the playingperforation or perilorations controls the intensity of the dynamiceffect.

.3. A tension controlling mechanism for musical instruments, comprisingtivo adjusting valves controlling passages of relatively' differentsizes from the `action to the pump, spring pressed pneumatics 'foroperating said. adjusting valves, and valves operated from the trackertor controlling said pneumatics, the passages for operating thepneumatics against their springs being restricted in size, whereby thetime element of the position of the accenting perforations in the musicsheet relatively to the position of the playing perforation orperforations controls th-e intensity et the dynamic effects.

fl. A tension controlling mechanism for musical instruments, comprisinga chamber connected to the action, a governing device for maintaining` alow constantly regulated tension therein, an adjusting valve controllinga passage from said chamber to the pump, a spring pressed pneumatic toroperating said adjusting valve, and a valve operated lrom the trackerfor controlling' said pneumatic, the passage for operating the pneumaticagainst the spring being restricted in size, whereby the time element ofthe position of the perforation in the music sheet for operating saidpneumatic relatively to the position oi' the playing perforation orperilorations controls the intensity of the dynamic etfect.

5. A tension controlling mechanism for musical instruments comprising anadjusting valve 'controlling a passage from the action to the pump, aspring pressed pneumatic `for operating said adjusting valve, a governorfor regulating the tension applied to operate said pneumatic, and avalve operated from the tracker for controlling said pneumatic, thepassage for operating the pneumatic against the spring being restrictedin size, whereby the time element of the position ot the aceentingperforation in the music sheet for operating said pneumatic relativelyto the position of the playing perforation or perforations controls theintensity o'f the dynamic effect.

6. A tension controlling mechanism for musical instruments, comprisingan adjusting valve controlling a passage from the action to the pump, aspring pressed pneumatic for opera-ting said adjusting valve, a governorfor regulating the tension applied to operate said pneumatic, meansWhereb the governing effect thereof can be adjuste and a valve operatedfrom the tracker for controlling said pneumatic, the passage foroperating the pneumatic against the spring being restricted in size,whereby the time element of the position ot the accenting perforation inthe music sheet relatively to the position of the playing perforation orper- :t'orations controls the intensity ot the dynamic effect.

7.111 a pneumatically operated musical instrument, a source of airtension, an accompaniment air chamber and an accenting air chamber,means to provide a regulated 10W air tension for said accompanimentchamber, means to provide a regulated high air tension for saidaccenting chamber, a plurality of striker pneumatics, means toselectively connect said striker pneumatics to either air chamber, andrecord controlled means to increase the air tension in saidaccompaniment chamber' for playing selected notes.

8. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, a source ot airtension, an accompaniment air chamber and an accenting air chamber.means to provide a regulated low air tension for said accompanimentchamber, means to provide a regulated high air tension tor saidaccenting chamber, a plurality of striker pneumatics, means toselectively connect said striker pneumatics to either' air chamber, andrecord controlled means to increase the air tension in said accentingchamber for playing selected notes.

9. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, a source of airtension, an accompaniment air chamber and an accenting air chamber,means to provide a regulated lo7 air tension for said accompanimentchamber, means to provide a regulated high air tension for saidacccnting chamber, a plurality of striker pneumatics` means toselectively connect said striker pneumatics to either air chamber, andrecord controlled means to increase the air tension in each of said airchambers for playing selected notes.

10. In a pneumatically operated musica-l instrument, the combination ofa source of high air tension and a source of low air tension, mechanismwhereby the high air tension may be applied automatically to operate andthus accent certain notes, and additional air tens-ion controllingmechanism for automatically adjusting either the high air tension or thelow air tension with respectl to certain selected notes.

l1. A tension controlling mechanism for musical instruments yhavingplayer actions and an air pump, comprisingl an adjusting valvecontrolling a passage between said actions and the air pump, andautomatic means for positioning said valve, said automatic means beingresponsive to the time element of the position of the pertorations inthe music sheet controlling said automatic means relative to theposition of the associated playing perforation or periorations for theplayer actions producing the notes to be accented, whereby the intensityof the dynamic effect is controlled by said time element.

l2. In a 'pneumatically operated musical instrument, a source oi airtension, `an accompaniment air chamber and an accenting air chamber,means to provide a regulated low air tension for said accompanimentchamber, means to provide a regulated high air tension for saidaccenting chamber, a plurality of striker pneumatics, means toselectively connect said striker pneumatics to either air chamber, andadditional means to increase the air tension in each ot said airchambers for playing selected notes, the time element of the position ofthe accenting perforation in the music sheet relative to the playing`perforation controlling the intensity of the dynamic effect.

In testimony whereof: I have hereunto affixed my signature.

UBERT URQUHART.

